12. Yankee Harbour 62º32´00´´S, 59º47´00´´W SW Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands

Key Features - Gentoo penguins (several thousand pairs) - Open walking areas - A trypot and the foundation of a sealer's hut can be found on the inner shoreline. - Whale bones (such as ribs) are reminder of the whalers who practised outboard flensing in the early years of Antarctic whaling (1906-1925)

Description

TOPOGRAPHY A small glacial-rimmed harbour, enclosed by a curved gravel spit. A large terraced beach area includes a melt-pool to the east. Beyond the beach, steep scree slopes rise to a rugged knife-edge summit.

FAUNA Confirmed breeders: Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua), Skua (Catharacta spp). Regularly haul out: Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella), Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii). Suspected Breeders: Snowy sheathbill (Chionis alba), Wilson’s storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus).

FLORA Xanthoria spp. and other crustose lichens, swards of moss species, Deschampsia antarctica, Colobanthus quitensis, and the green alga Prasiola crispa are present.

OTHER Artefacts from early sealing activities may be found along the inner shoreline.

Visitor Impact

KNOWN IMPACTS None.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS Disturbance of wildlife, damage to the sealing remains and trampling vegetation.

Landing Requirements

SHIPS* Max pax on board: 500 Ships at a time:1 Comments: No more than 3 ships carrying more than 200 passengers per day (midnight to midnight)

VISITORS Maximum number of visitors at any time, exclusive of expedition guides and leaders: 100 Visitors per guide: 20 Curfew time period (from/to), in order to establish a rest period for wildlife: 22:00-04:00 Comments: No visitors ashore between 22:00hrs and 04:00hrs (local time), except for those engaged in organised overnight stays. This is in order to establish a resting period for the wildlife.

12. Yankee Harbour 62º32´00´´S, 59º47´00´´W SW Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands

Visitor Area

LANDING AREA Along the gravel spit, preferably on the inside.

CLOSED AREA Raised terraces above the melt pool with nesting gentoo penguins and the scree slopes above.

GUIDED WALKING AREA None.

FREE ROAMING AREA Visitors may roam freely under supervision anywhere on the site, except for the closed area. Longer walks are possible along the curved spit, towards the glacial moraine on the southeastern side, and towards the glacier in the northeast.

Visitor code of conduct

BEHAVIOUR ASHORE • Do not move or sit on the remains of the sealing trypot. • Be careful around and avoid walking on the area of sealing remains. Do not move any artefacts. • All visits are to be conducted in accordance with the General Guidelines for Visitors to the Antarctic. • Do not walk through the remains of the the sealers hut. The foundation of this hut is easily overlooked. It is located about 10m south-east of the trypot (at 62°32'01.3”S, 059°46'53.2”W) • Skuas regularly nest on the spit. When sitting on eggs, the birds blend in with the boulders and are easily overlooked. Avoid disturbing their nests. • In this area it is advisable to maintain gaps between groups of visitors to avoid disrupting penguin movement. • Do not move any whale bones. • When moving across the plain between the south-western shore and penguin colonies monitor nearby wildlife movements and remember to give wildlife right-of-way.

CAUTIONARY NOTES Be aware that glacier calving may produce dangerous waves. Be aware that ice may be blown into the bay towards the landing site. It can move fast and end up blocking the landing site.

Yankee Harbour from above: showing the gravel spit enclosing the landing beach

12. Yankee Harbour 62º32´00´´S, 59º47´00´´W SW Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands

Artefacts from early sealing activities (a trypot) found on the inner Yankee Harbour landing site shoreline